On- vs off-lead

[Rubylove]

I am having a dispute with my partner at the moment about the benefits of off-lead walking/training/romping etc...

He seems very much against it, almost as if he wants to train Ruby by totally avoiding any situation where she might jump on another dog, not come when she's called etc....

To me this seems like a bad idea because without exposure to these situations she'll never learn. But we always end up arguing about it and I was after some other people's advice and opinions.

Thanking you in advance!

 

[oriondw]

Im 100% against off-leash doing anything...

 

[frenchboxer]

I'm 100% for walking off leash - except in the city. 99.9% of people walk their dogs off leash around here. If you happen to know you have an 'aggressive' dog, then for sure it should be leashed. So far so good.

 

[Rubylove]

Our dogs are only puppies so this is for them to learn. They are not the slightest bit aggressive - only excitable. Apparently all Labradoodles are a little bit loony so we're not surprised!! But I want them to learn to socialise with other dogs/people so I want them to learn how to behave off-lead. I would never do it while they're still unpredictable when there are children around, but adults and other dogs? I think they need to learn...

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I think training your dogs to behave off-leash is very important. What if you're taking a walk, the leash unclips, and your dog sees a squirrel across the street. He starts to bolt. What if you can't tell him "stay" or "come" and know he'll obey? He'll get hit by a car.

I do not think that walking off-lead near busy streets etc. is a good idea, and you should ALWAYS obey leash laws.

 

[Gempress]

I see where you're coming from about teaching them how to behave off-leash, but to me, it's something that needs to handled mainly by off-leash obedience work. I would never, ever walk my dog off-lead in the city.

Even with the most well-trained dog, there are too many variables to worry about in urban areas. Your dog could try to run up to and play with a dog with aggression problems. Or a squirrel could run by. I personally get nervous whenever I see a dog off-leash and I'm walking Zeus. Zeus has been threatened twice and attacked once by dogs who were off-leash (the owners swore that their dogs "never did that before"). The leash isn't necessarily there to restrict your dog, it's also there to let other passers-by know that your dog is under control and there's nothing to worry about.

 

[Rubylove]

Yep, I agree with all of that. Our dogs are only allowed off-leash in designated dog exercise areas - parks, dog beach and so on - never along the street or near a street, and rarely when there are more than one or two other dogs around. We tend to take them right out into the middle of a park and let them off there. So I'd say they'd spend 95% of time on a leash, and about 5% off. But it's at parks etc where my partner has a problem with it - we never do it anywhere else anyway - but he still wants them to be on the lead at proper dog exercise parks where it's allowed and encouraged. I just don't think they should be on ALL the time...

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

If it makes him more comfortable, you could get tracking leads and let them run around dragging the leads. That way they're free in a way, but if you need to grabt them, you can.

 

[rocco&quiras mama]

a good compromise might be to use a long.. what do you call it ?..it´s like a really long lead, i guess a tracking lead and when ever the dog does something it shouldnt ,then you just stomp on it.. this way other ppl dont have to deal with your dog running up to them or their dogs..

 

[Sirius]

I don't think that any dog should be off leash unless in a contained area or in a dog park.

 

[RD]

Good behavior off-leash is very important to me, but it really depends on the dog and what they will be able to do. There are some dogs that I would never let off-lead in a public place (ie: ripley) and some that can be extremely reliable.

I'm all for off-lead training if it is done safely.

 

[oriondw]

If a dog is friendly, well socialized, and obedient. If it doesnt run to greet first dog it sees.

Then offleash is ok with me. Letting a dog that has temperment issues or is unreliable offleash is just stupid.

 

[rocco&quiras mama]

my dogs are very friendly and very well socialized but they love ppl and all though they dont run up to everyone they see .. some ppl are scared and for those ppl it´s scary enough just seeing a dog offlead.. it´s all about respect..

 

[panzer426]

on leash unless in your home or a home you are comfortable in and can still supervise 100%, off leash in a securely fenced area while you supervise, off leash inside a dog kennel, off leash at the vet or groomer IF the vet/groomer needs the leash off to do something either while you supervise or while the dog is sedated or while the vet supervises (if you trust the vet). think thats about it except POSSIBLY a dog park where you are fenced in, after you have been many times and know the dog wont cause trouble and know the other dogs wont, new dog comes leash goes on.

 

[Brattina88]

Good behavior off-leash is very important to me, but it really depends on the dog and what they will be able to do. There are some dogs that I would never let off-lead in a public place (ie: ripley) and some that can be extremely reliable.

I'm all for off-lead training if it is done safely.

I agree. I think it very much depends on the dog, and the trainer/owner/handler

my dogs are very friendly and very well socialized but they love ppl and all though they dont run up to everyone they see .. some ppl are scared and for those ppl it´s scary enough just seeing a dog offlead.. it´s all about respect..

I agree, to some extent. It depends on where you are - you have to respect people if you are in a public park that has any person who could be potentaily afriad of dogs. I personally only let Maddie off leash when we are in a very remote location, or a known area that dogs are aloud off leash so that people are aware they are, even though she is small, very obediant and always comes when I call her. (I would Never let my Carly off of the leash) We have to be careful because one wrong thing happens, and it ruins it for every dog in the area.

 

[Dixie]

OK heres my stance-

If you want the dog off-leash, I would STRONGLY recommend OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB well versed OBEDIENCE! Your dog should be 110% reliable off-leash, not 99.9%, its not complete.

Also, Collar conditioning to urge the response you desire. This is using the e-collar. Now before I get crucified, let me explain. When you do this, you are not looking to zap the crap out of the dog right off. I use a 15-level e-collar. Level 1 gets no response, Level 2 gets his attention, Level 3 makes him jump, anything higher gets an immediate YIKE! We train on level 2, if he decides to deliberately disobey me then I up it to level 3, after that he usually complies, only once have I had to take it to level 4.

Now here's how you do it. You give the command, and you immediately nic, within a week he is driving to do as you ask, and for every session after that you must have a collar on. Here's what happens, Fido gets to roam a bit, and yet he is under your control.

Now if there are multiple dogs in your area, I WOULD NOT walk-off leash unless at the park, you never know when a fight might go down. If your out in the country where you know your neighbors dogs then yeah I would walk him off-leash. Just keep the leash in your pocket in case he forgets his manners.

-Dix

 

[rocco&quiras mama]

shocking your dog obediant... theres a good tip 4 ya.......

why not stop using all these prongs ( or whatever u call them ) e-collars and whatever else and start trying positive reenforcement...
let me remind you that not to long ago it was ok to hit children or hang blacks..

 

[oriondw]

shocking your dog obediant... theres a good tip 4 ya.......

why not stop using all these prongs ( or whatever u call them ) e-collars and whatever else and start trying positive reenforcement...
let me remind you that not to long ago it was ok to hit children or hang blacks..

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I am not a huge fan of shock collars, but when used correctly they can be good training tools. I hate how if you come here and you're not 100% positive training, you're bashed and totally pushed down....I've had this happen to me and it's really annoying. You CAN'T say one thing will work for all dogs. Now, I'm not saying abuse your dog, but you don't have to be 100% P.R. and do what other owners do because they bully you.

 

[Brattina88]

idu... people still hit kids ...

Believe you and me I am all for positive reenforcement, but I don't instantly disagree with other methods because I know P.R doesn't work for every single dog - especailly those who are definitely not food or praise motivated